Chicken Mole Stew

April 12, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I’ve made this with beef and I think I actually prefer it with chicken ! The chicken almost looks like beef since it has all the spicy goodness coating it and the flavor is mellow and deep like a good mole. This is not a REAL mole, but the flavor is definitely similar and once you taste this, you’ll find yourself craving it 🙂

6 servings
297 calories per serving

2 T unsweetened cocoa
2 T ground coriander
3 t garlic powder
3 t ground cumin
3 t ancho chile powder
3 t paprika
3 t oregano flakes
¼ t cinnamon
2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 c flour
1 T oil
½ c chopped onion
½ c chopped green bell pepper
½ c dry red wine
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 t salt
¼ t pepper

Combine the first 8 ingredients then stir in the chicken and mix well. Remove the chicken and then add flour to the rest of the spices and whisk well. Then add the chicken back and toss. Heat oil in a Dutch oven on medium high and add chicken pieces and sauté 5 minutes browning all sides then remove to a plate and keep warm. Add onion and pepper to the pan and cook 6 minutes then stir in the wine and tomatoes (with their liquid), add back in chicken, cover and set heat to low and simmer 1 hour stirring occasionally.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Corn Salad

April 10, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Even my young teenage nephew liked this one ! So it’s kid approved 🙂 Lotsa flavor, lotsa veggies, and a great side to just about anything.

7 servings
140 calories per serving

Dressing:
¼ c oil
1 T chopped parsley
3 T rice vinegar
1 T soy sauce
½ t crushed red pepper

Salad:
1 lb. frozen corn
¼ c shredded carrots
¼ c sliced radishes
¼ c sliced green onions (green part only)

Combine all dressing ingredients and refrigerate. Bring a pan of water to a boil and cook corn 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool then pat dry and add to all the rest of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours so flavors mix.

Breakfast

Grilled Banana French Toast

April 9, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Talk about decadent and delicious !! This breakfast dish will give you legendary ‘short order cook’ status ! The bananas and cream cheese make a perfect middle to the grilled raisin bread.

8 servings
206 calories per serving

8 slices 80 calories cinnamon raisin bread
2 medium bananas, in slices
1 c skim milk
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 c egg beaters
1/3 c Splenda
3 T flour
2 t vanilla
Powdered sugar (optional)
Pam

Spray skillet with Pam and heat well. Mix milk, cheese, eggs, sugar, flour and vanilla with a mixer until. Take 4 slices of bread and spread with cream cheese then add banana slices and top with the remaining bread. Gently dip into the egg mix and then place on pan and cook 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Cut in half and sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Dinner, Fish

Tuna Casserole

April 8, 2011 admin Leave a comment

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Everyone loves a good tuna casserole. This one tastes great and is way lower in the calorie department than my regular recipe. It gets skinnied up by using a slim milk and broth based sauce rather than a creamier version. The results are great !

6 servings
390 calories per serving

8 oz. whole wheat egg noodles
1 medium onion, chopped finely
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
½ c chicken broth
6 T flour
3 c skim milk
12 oz. can chunk light tuna in water, drained well
1 c frozen peas, thawed
1 c finely shredded parmesan cheese
½ c panko breadcrumbs
Pam

Cook noodles according to package directions. Preheat broiler.

Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Then cook onions 5 minutes. If they start to dry out, add a tablespoon or so of hot water. Add mushrooms and cook another 3 minutes. Add wine and continue cooking until liquid is evaporated, about 4 minutes then add milk, salt and pepper. Sprinkle peas with flour and mix to coat. Add to mushroom mix with tuna and half of the parm. Stir in the noodles. Place in a baking dish and sprinkle with crumbs and the rest of the parm. Broil 3-4 minutes until bubbly and top is brown.

Sprinkle the casserole with breadcrumbs and the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Broil until bubbly and lightly browned on top, 3 to 4 minutes.

You can also prepare this ahead and then sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and cheese last minute, cover and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so, taking off the cover the last 10 minutes to brown the top.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

April 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I bet this gets your kids eating their green beans ! And maybe even asking for more 🙂 Cheese, sauce, stuffing – what’s not to like?!?!

14 servings
157 calories per serving

2 16 oz. packages frozen French cut green beans, thawed
1 can low fat cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into ½ inch cubes
1 1/2 c hot water
1/4 c butter
8 oz. stuffing mix (I like Stove Top)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix beans and soup and place in a baking dish then top with cheese. Mix water and butter and melt butter all the way. Stir into stuffing and then spoon that over the casserole. Bake 40 minutes.

Dessert

Polish Babka

April 6, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I have been searching for a recipe that would turn out my Grandma’s babka, but, alas, I cannot find one that compares. After years of Grandma’s being passed around, something is surely missing as it just does not turn out the right product. This one is close – it has most of the right ingredients and it turns out a really nice tasting babka that is quite traditional (like many of the Polish delis sell), but it is not my Grandma’s babka. Hers was much flatter and less dense – it was drier and airier. It was more a cross between a cake and a bread (she even cooked it in a 9×13 pan rather than a bundt or in bread pans) whereas this one is more the traditional heavier bread. So if you’re looking for a traditional babka recipe, this is a great one to try.

If anyone out there knows of how to get the babka tasting more like I remember, please let me know !!

20 servings
239 calories per serving

6 c flour
1 t salt
1 package of yeast
½ c warm water
¾ c sugar
1 ½ c skim milk
1 stick unsalted butter
¾ c golden raisins
2 eggs, beaten
1 egg yolk
2 T water
Pam

Soak raisins in some warm water to plump them up a little then drain before adding to dough. Heat milk in a saucepan then add the butter and cook on low until the butter is melted. Pour into a mixing bowl and add sugar and salt and cool for 20 minutes. Mix the yeast and ½ c water and let sit 5 minutes then add it to the milk and sugar mix. Add in the 2 beaten eggs and then gradually add the flour and mix. Then knead the dough ½ hour by hand or 10-12 minutes in a mixer with a dough hook attachment. Add the raisins during the last couple minutes of kneading.

Cover the bowl with a towel and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about one hour. Then punch down, re-cover and let it rise another hour.

Then take dough and place in a 13×9 pan (or in 2 bread pans). Mix the egg yolk and 2 T water and brush onto the top of the bread dough. Spray foil with Pam and cover pan and let rise again until doubled – again, about an hour.

Then uncover and bake at 350 degrees for ½ hour for a 9×13 pan or 45 minutes for a large pan or bread pans. It’s done when you tape on it and it makes a hollow sound. Let cool and then cut into slices.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pork

Pork Chops and Apple Stuffing

April 4, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The apples added to the stuffing make all the difference in this meal – it is special and memorable ! Try serving with Buttery Carrots.

6 servings
290 calories per serving

6 boneless pork chops, about 1 1/2 lb.
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1 T oil
2 medium apples, thinly sliced
1 1/2 c water
6 oz. Stove Top stuffing

Heat oil in skillet and cook onion 3 minutes then add pork and cook 4 minutes per side or until done. Move meat to a plate and keep warm. Add apples and water and bring to a boil and then stir in stuffing and place on top. Cover and let stand 5 minutes.

Dinner, Sides

Spanish Rice

April 3, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Spice it up with some homemade Spanish rice. This recipe is easy to do and gives you a great side dish ! You could easily substitute the type of tomatoes and peppers to make this exactly how you like it.

6 servings
144 calories per serving

½ c finely chopped shallots
½ c chopped bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T oil
1 t chili powder
28 oz. can diced tomatoes and their juice
¾ c long grain rice
4 oz. can diced green chilies
Hot pepper sauce to taste
1 c water
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil and cook shallots, pepper and garlic until tender. Add chili powder and cook 1 minute then add tomatoes, rice, chilies, hot pepper sauce, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil them reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Buttery Carrots

April 2, 2011 admin 1 Comment

The honey, orange and vanilla make a great glaze – just sweet enough without being too sweet. Serve these next to any dish for a colorful and fun carrot recipe.

4 servings
81 calories per serving

2 c diagonally cut carrots
½ c water
2 T honey
1 T light butter
1 t grated orange zest
¼ t vanilla
1/8 t salt

Place carrots and water in a pan and bring to a boil over medium high heat then reduce heat and simmer 8 minutes. Drain and return to pan and add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Cook 1-2 minutes or until the liquid has reduced to a glaze.

Snacks

Popcorners – I’m hopelessly addicted :)

March 31, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I admit it – I’m a snacker. That can be my downfall…I eat great, healthy meals, but the snacks get me. So I try to keep a bunch of healthier alternatives around so that when I can’t resist the urge, at least I am not totally killing my calorie count. My newest favorite is a popcorn ‘chip’ called PopCorners. These are FABULOUS !!

A 1.1 ounce bag is only 140 calories! The serving size is more than enough and the all natural product tastes great. It’s popcorn without all the messy little leftover kernel pieces that only get in my teeth and bother me anyhow 😉 And one of my favorite parts – – they come in different flavors. I LOVE things that have different flavors 🙂

Today I’m eating the slightly sweet Kettle version. Yesterday was Butter. The day before was Sea Salt. And tomorrow I have to try the White Cheddar – based on all the others being so good, I am sure the cheese will please.

Try some – if you can’t find them locally, you can order online. Healthy, all natural, low cal and awesome…Popcorners. (I may sound like an endorsement, but I have no affiliation with the product ! I just love it.)